Winchester Cathedral
Explain the main influences on the development of Winchester Cathedral from 1066-1540.
In this essay I am going to explain the development of Winchester cathedral from 1066-1540 using my own knowledge, and the main influences, which are the Norman Conquest in 1066, the Crusades from 1190 to 1200, the Black Death in 1348, and the Reformation in 1538-39. Using the events and the factors that they affect, I will also be able to review the typicality of the cathedral.
A factor that was largely affected at the time of the Norman Conquest is power and control. After the battle of Hastings in 1066, was the arrival of William the Conqueror and the Normans. After defeating Harold Godwinson, William needed to gain power and control over the country quickly. He did this by building cathedrals to gain power over religion, and castles to gain power through fear. The church was a very important part of everyday life in medieval society, and therefore to gain power of the cathedral meant gaining power over the people. I know this from my own knowledge as the Bayeaux tapestry shows the coronation of William the Conqueror at Westminster Abbey on Christmas day in 1066. I also know that their cathedrals were much larger than any buildings since those of the last great Roman emperors, which shows a lot of power. The Norman Romanesque style of building was typical to the cathedral as it was built in the Roman style. This style is quite simple and plain, with round pillars, round arches, and no decoration. The style has three levels, the arcade, triforium and celestry. From my own knowledge I also know that there was extensive rebuilding of great churches and building of castles across England, conveying this is typical of Winchester Cathedral. Although the Norman Romanesque style remaining in the North and South Transepts is a powerful example of early Norman English architecture, there is evidence that skilled labour was in short supply at the...
View Full Essay
